The A-Z of laughter (part two)

Ahead of this week's British Comedy Awards, the Observer has decided to find out who really makes us laugh. With the help of a panel of expert judges, we present the 50 funniest people in Britain. From stand-up comedians to the backroom producers, from satirists to the kings of slapstick, this is a celebration of the very best of British humour

The following correction was printed in the Observer's For the record column, Sunday December 14 2003

In the article below we placed Paul Merton among the 50 funniest people in Britain for - among other things - 'never quite letting Ian Hislop forget he is his straight man'. But the joke we quoted as Merton's funniest moment on Have I Got News for You, was actually Hislop's...

Why: Though their original sketch show, which won them the Perrier Award in 1997, was more in the revue style, they are best known for the characters of their Bafta-winning television series. These inhabitants of the village of Royston Vasey (the real name of the conservative comic Roy 'Chubby' Brown) are true grotesques, the comic heirs of Mervyn Peake's Gormenghast, Goya's monsters and the exaggerated, often disturbing creatures of folk tale. The incestuous, pig-snouted Edward and Tubbs, with their obsession with 'local people'; the butcher Hillary Briss, who sells human flesh; Papa Lazaro, who abducts women to his terrifying travelling circus with the phrase 'You're my wife now, Dave'; all these are horribly funny creations that reach back to much older traditions that have almost disappeared from British comedy.

Funniest moment: Last year's Christmas special is the best thing they've done - recreating the old portmanteau horror film in comic mode.

What next: Jeremy and Mark are writing novels, Reece has just finished filming the new Reeves and Mortimer series Cateric and Steve is in Egypt filming Death on the Nile. Their script book and series three on DVD are on sale now.

Graham Linehan, 34 Arthur Mathews, 44

Why: No need to enumerate the plaudits Linehan & Mathews garnered in the late Nineties; Loaded voted Father Ted sitcom of the decade. The duo's skewed worldview tickled the ribs of stoners and straights alike, perhaps because the blend of surreal and slapstick was so perfect. Between them, the duo have had a hand in everything from Smith & Jones to Brass Eye and Black Books; they are responsible for drawing attention to (if not actually making) Ardal O'Hanlon, Graham Norton, Pauline McLynn and Dylan Moran.

Funniest moment: Ted and a group of priests go Christmas shopping and suddenly realise they've ended up in the lingerie section. Ted has to lead them out, commando-style.

What next: Linehan has a project in progress for Channel 4, Mathews has written a musical, Macartacus (... and Keano), and the pair are collaborating on a new comedy drama.

Francesca Martinez, 23

Why: Before Martinez took to the stage, after five years in Grange Hill, the idea of laughing at disability was anathema to most comedy audiences. But Martinez, who has cerebral palsy, had the confidence to accept that her appearance often gives rise to funny situations. After winning the Daily Telegraph Open Mic Award in 2000, she took her first full-length show, I'm Perfect, to Edinburgh. She's smart enough to know that audiences expect jokes about her CP, but it's not her only focus; she's a warm and mischievous performer.

Funniest moment: She won an army of fans when she appeared as a guest on Frank Skinner's chat show.

What next: Currently writing a sitcom for the BBC.

Paul Merton, 46

Why: For bringing to Have I Got News for You a genuine surrealism that cuts through the clubbable smugness. For proving that inspired improvisation always trumps contrived script. For never quite letting Ian Hislop forget he is his straight man. For never talking to the guest who sits beside him, whether it's Jonathan Aitken or a tub of lard. For continually making us overlook the contrivance of Room 101. For realising after a series of 'Simpson and Galton...' that he is not Tony Hancock.

Funniest moment: Reading the News of the World's story about Angus Deayton to Angus Deayton: '"He made me groan all night". What were you doing, reading the autocue?'

What next: More Have I Got News For You and Room 101. Less Tony Hancock.

Shazia Mirza, 27

Why: As the first female Muslim stand-up in Britain, Mirza was not short of attention when she started out in 2000, but the events of 9/11 thrust her into the spotlight; her dry, deadpan observations about the business of being a Muslim woman were the perfect antidote to a potential demonisation of her faith and culture.

Funniest moment: 'My name is Shazia Mirza. At least, that's what it says on my pilot's licence.'

What next: CBS is making a 60-minute documentary about her, while she continues with gigs here and abroad, including Kosovo, Sweden, Switzerland and the US next year.

Dylan Moran, 32

Why: The perma-drunk, chainsmoking misanthrope Bernard Black, Moran's character in Black Books, is an exaggeration of the stand-up persona that won him the Perrier in 1996, the youngest recipient of the award at the time. His brand of shambolic, hectoring whimsy delights audiences, but he has also proved himself a versatile actor, appearing in How Do You Want Me? alongside the late Charlotte Coleman, and this year with Michael Caine in The Actors.

Funniest moment: Episode four of the first series of Black Books, in which Bernard attempts, with a steaming hangover, to remember what he could possibly have done the night before to make his oldest friends disown him.

What next: Third series of Black Books.

Chris Morris, 38

Why: For thinking he'd failed because his Brass Eye paedophile show, which so outraged the Daily Mail, did not go far enough. For doing Jeremy Paxman better than Jeremy Paxman on The Day Today. For announcing the sad death of Michael Heseltine live on radio (and getting fired for it). For having Phil Collins spout tosh about paedophiles while wearing a T-shirt saying 'Nonce Sense'. For effectively strangling at birth the fledgling political career of floppy-haired Tory MP David Amess, who was moved to autocue from the heart about the dangers of the fabricated drug 'cake': 'One girl vomited up her own pelvic bone.' For remembering that satire does not have to say it's sorry.

Funniest moment: His discussion with Eve Pollard about the ethics of keeping a three-foot diameter, genetically modified testicle alive in an incubator.

What next: A Morris response to Operation Shock and Awe is already overdue.

Al Murray, 35

Why: The great great great great grandson of Thackeray, Murray's Pub Landlord is one of the finest characters in British comedy. And he'd be proud to hear that, because good old-fashioned Britishness brings a tear to the Landlord's eye. The character first appeared in 1994 as part of Harry Hill's pub band, and finally won the Perrier Award in 1999 after four years of nominations. The Pub Landlord also starred in his sitcom, Time, Gentlemen, Please, which Murray co-wrote with Richard Herring.

Funniest moment: 'The French aren't here to defend themselves. And we know how good they are at that.'

What next: Touring in 2004; has just released the DVD My Gaff, My Rules.

Ross Noble, 27

Why: For the past two years this shaggy Geordie has been the biggest-selling show at the Edinburgh Fringe. Noble can improvise an hour's worth of brilliant material from one or two audience responses. Watching him on stage is an exhilarating hurtle through the strange flumes of his imagination; he specialises in glorious freeform nonsense.

Funniest moment: Sonic Waffle, his live show of 2002, was outstanding. But offering to be Ian McKellen's body double - the Geordie Gandalf - on Have I Got News for You was pretty good too.

What next: Touring Australia next year then preparing for Edinburgh again.

Graham Norton, 40

Why: The first openly gay chat show host. As cheap and tacky as Woolworth's Christmas display, he first made it big as the Riverdance-loving Father Noel in Father Ted. He did so well as Jack Docherty's holiday cover on Five that Channel 4 offered him his own talk show. With rude websites and loads of innuendo, it's a favourite stopover with the international HRT set (Joan, Jerry, Dolly, Cher, Elton and Liza).

Funniest moment: Getting Mo Mowlam to marry two dogs on air. Persuading Nigella to dress up as the Virgin Mary.

What next: Recently signed to the American channel Comedy Central for two years in a deal worth £7 million.

Denise O'Donohue, 48 Jimmy Mulville, 48

Why: Co-founders of the TV production company Hat Trick, they've revolutionised British comedy - bringing us Father Ted, Drop the Dead Donkey, Whose Line is it Anyway?, Have I Got News for You, The Kumars at No 42 and Room 101. Mulville, a former comedian, is credited as the creative force, while O'Donoghue is the business brain.

What next: World domination. In June Mulville and O'Donoghue trousered £11m each when they sold 45 per cent of Hat Trick to a venture capital firm. They are making a foray into drama with In Denial of Murder, based on Don Hale's campaign to free Stephen Downing.

Paul O'Grady, 48

Why: Because O'Grady (aka Lily Savage) lives up to his stage name whether in costume or not. His vicious tongue saves him from being just another cuddly female impersonator. Unlike other character comedians, O'Grady is as funny as his alter ego, which is why he has made such a successful transition from lippy Lily to a globetrotting travel presenter who owes little to the Michael Palin school of polite awe.

Funniest moment: Hungover in Shanghai on Paul Grady's Orient he launched into a glorious attack on his high-tech hotel. 'I don't want to do a degree course in computer studies before I can wipe my arse,' he raged.

What next: Will appear in Who Wants to be a Millionaire? Christmas special.

Sally Phillips, 33

Why: In Smack the Pony, Phillips and her co-stars Doon Mackichan and Fiona Allen pioneered a sketch show in which women made jokes, often quite brilliant un-PC ones, about subjects other than men and chocolate. Having said that, their 'Lonely Hearts' sketches, featuring psychotic Russian au pairs and women with facial hair, were particularly splendid.

Funniest moment: Breakthrough role as the giggly receptionist in I'm Alan Partridge.

What next: Filming Bridget Jones: The End of Reason, and Tooth, alongside Jim Broadbent and Stephen Fry. Has written and performed in Cancun, a comedy pilot for the BBC.

Jon Plowman, 50

Why: As the head of comedy entertainment at the BBC, Plowman commissions 'the sort of stuff people talk about at dinner parties'. He brought us The Office, The League of Gentlemen, Coupling and Absolutely Fabulous. His career began at the Royal Court before he moved into TV. When French and Saunders asked him to produce their new show, his career as a comedy producer was born.

Funniest moment: The sketch where Dawn and Jen are rebuked by a schoolmarmish Jane Asher - 'It's not clever, it's not funny.'

What next: Gossip has Plowman tipped as a future director-general of the BBC.

Matt Pritchett, 39

Why: His cartoons are regarded as the funniest in the business. Since 1988 he has been pocket cartoonist on the Daily Telegraph. As the grandson of the novelist V.S. Pritchett, Matt wears his pedigree lightly. He studied graphics at St. Martin's and, unable to get work as a cameraman, was a waiter in a pizza restaurant, drawing cartoons in his spare time.

Why: They're the true heirs of Morecambe and Wise. Unlike Eric and Ernie, they don't have a straight man, although on their outrageous quiz show, Shooting Stars, Reeves did most of the clowning. Despite their ubiquitous presence during the last decade, they've rarely made a bad move.

What next: Will star in The All Star Comedy Show with Steve Coogan, next year on ITV1.

Jennifer Saunders, 45

Why: With Dawn French, Saunders pioneered the concept of women behaving badly. They were loud, bawdy - and unapologetically differently sized. Then Absolutely Fabulous reinvented both Joanna Lumley and June Whitfield. Stretched thread-thin over four series, the Ab Fab joke recently made an unexpected recovery in series five.

Funniest moment: Eddie and Patsy in Val d'Is¿re: 'These earrings with this snowboard?'

What next: French & Saunders Christmas special. Saunders voices the Fairy Godmother in Shrek 2, out next year.

Frank Skinner, 46

Why: Teetotal, thinks David Baddiel is funny and died on his arse co-hosting last year's Brit Awards - yet our love for this Brummie chat show host seems undiminished. He forsakes his competitors' egocentric interruptions for a relaxed interviewing style that puts his guests centre-stage, if not always at ease (as Matthew Kelly recently demonstrated). End-of-show singalongs epitomise his combination of tradition and a willingness to experiment.

What next: Starring as a taxi driver in new sitcom, Shane; more Unplanned shows with Baddiel; and a mooted return of Fantasy Football.

Linda Smith

Why: The first female team captain on Radio 4's clubby News Quiz, Smith has forced the old boys to raise their game. Talent for deft, surreal observation also helped her storm the male bastion of Have I Got News for You?. Was recently voted The Wittiest Living Person by listeners to Radio 4's Word of Mouth. In her own words: 'I've decided to stay in my late thirties forever.'

Funniest moment: On David Blunkett: 'Satan's bearded folk singer'.

What next: Touring in February. A new series of A Brief History of Time-Wasting on Radio 4 next year.

Meera Syal, 42

Why: As one of the creators of Goodness Gracious Me, Syal is part of an Anglo- Indian comedy explosion ('like Jewish humour with a suntan!'). Worth over £4 million according to the Asian Rich List, this year Syal broke an interracial advertising barrier (where Asians only flog curry) to appear in a Walkers crisps ad with Gary Lineker. Arguably the only stand-up with an MA in psychotherapy. Films include Anita and Me, based on her best-selling novel, and Bhaji on the Beach.

Funniest moment: During an interview with Richard and Judy on the Kumars, she begged Richard, "Please don't get up, your hair must be very heavy."

What next: Tweaking her script for Andrew Lloyd Webber's Bombay Dreams, which is off to Broadway.

Harry Thompson, 43

Why: The prolific writer-producer has been behind many of the most successful comedy series over the last decade including Da Ali G Show, Harry Enfield and Chums, Have I Got News for You and They Think it's All Over. He spotted Sacha Baron Cohen's talent and helped create spoof interviewer Ali G. Currently working on Monkey Dust, the most subversive show on television. The topical animated series is dark and unafraid to tackle taboo subjects such as paedophilia, taking us to Cruel Britannia, a creepy place where the public are hoodwinked by arrogant politicians and celebrities. This edgy show doesn't always work, but when it does there is nothing quite like it.

Why: Hidden camera shows are usually the preserve of sneery white men. Think Dom Joly or the original Candid Camera. Both relied on poking fun at hapless members of the public. The 3 Non-Blondes have succeeded in turning the genre on its head in a series which started on BBC3 and received a holy grail transfer to BBC2. Approaching strangers in shopping centres demanding a kiss, or standing on the Tube with a skirt around the ankles, each Non-Blonde is laughing with everyone, not at them. More refreshingly still, while the trio may be black and female, the show doesn't revolve around either characteristic, but allows them to add a surreal top note to a sketch if it's needed.

Funniest moment: An African queen (Empson) goes into a posh London hotel with her entourage (Jee Esien and Benjamin) who scatter petals in her wake and demand to know where they can keep the elephants.

What next: The second series transfers to BBC2 in the new year, and there's a Christmas special on BBC3 on 21 December.

Don Ward, 67

Why: Ward founded The Comedy Store above a strip club in Soho. Nearly 25 years later, it has moved premises and doubled in size but sustains its ability to draw top-notch comics in the face of growing competition (notably from the Jongleurs chain). Ward attributes his success to his former career as a standup: 'I know performers, I know what they like. They don't want too big a room, they want the audience facing forward, good sound, no table service. They don't want stags and hens in. There isn't a disco.'

What next: Producing a TV documentary about the Store's 25 years, and expanding the company to add to satellite Stores in Leeds and Manchester.

Victoria Wood, 50

Why: Wood casts an affectionate but ruthless eye over the female underworld of M&S knickers, eating disorders, the school run and colonic irrigation. Many of her sketches such as Acorn Antiques, a parody of the wooden acting and wobbly sets of Crossroads, have entered the comic lexicon. And just as we were beginning to wonder whether her act was a little too cosy for its own good (although her live shows are absolutely filthy), she brought us the Dinnerladies. It's astonishing to think she has held our attention for 30 years (she first hit our screens in 1973 when she won the ITV talent show New Faces), while her friendship with Julie Walters has developed into one of British comedy's most enduring double-acts.